Here is what actually moved in Naples and Southwest Florida, and what each story means if you own, want to buy, or are thinking about selling.
FDOT sets public hearings on adding lanes to I-75 from Golden Gate Parkway to Alico Road
WINK News reported on Oct 20, 2026 that the Florida Department of Transportation will hold public hearings on proposed capacity improvements to I-75 from Golden Gate Parkway in Naples north to Alico Road in Lee County. The plan would add lane segments in both directions, including auxiliary and express lanes, under the state's Moving Florida Forward initiative, because FDOT says congestion will keep getting worse as population and development grow. An in-person hearing is set for Oct 27 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1225 Piper Boulevard in Naples (open house 4 p.m., presentation and comments at 4:30 p.m.), with a virtual hearing on Oct 28 at 6 p.m. Comments must be received or postmarked by Nov 10 to be part of the official record, and noise wall details will come later.
Why it matters: This stretch of I-75 runs right through the team's core market, from Golden Gate and North Naples past Bonita Springs and Estero to the airport area, so wider lanes could shorten commutes and lift the appeal of communities near the Immokalee Road, Bonita Beach Road and Corkscrew interchanges. The team should also flag possible construction disruption and future noise wall decisions for clients buying or selling homes that back up to the interstate, and can share the Oct 27 hearing with sphere clients who want a say. For out-of-state and relocating buyers, I-75 is the main link to RSW airport and between Naples and Fort Myers, so a planned capacity upgrade is a real plus for seasonal owners a
Marco Island gets its first Live Local Act project: a 27-unit apartment building off San Marco Road the city cannot block
The Marco Eagle, part of the Naples Daily News network, reported on Oct 20, 2026 that ACG Marco, LLC plans a three-story, 27-unit apartment building in the mangroves off San Marco Road, the island's first project under Florida's Live Local Act. The state law preempts local review of height and density, so the City Council did not vote on the project itself, though it approved a land-use restriction agreement 6-1 that gives the city some recourse if the property is sold or the law changes. Eleven of the 27 units will be affordable based on local median income and must stay that way for 30 years, and the plan includes 58 parking spaces.
Why it matters: This shows the Live Local Act can now put workforce rentals on sites across Collier County, even in high-end places like Marco Island, without local zoning approval, which matters when the team advises clients on what could be built near a property. It is also a useful talking point for investors and builders, since the law opens up density on commercial and mixed-use land. For out-of-state buyers, especially second-home buyers who assume strict local zoning protects their view or neighborhood, the team should explain how state preemption works in Florida and do extra due diligence on nearby vacant or commercial parcels.
New Collier study: 74% of women surveyed name housing affordability as their top unmet need
WINK News reported on Oct 20, 2026 on a new 2026 study by the Women's Foundation of Collier County and the Collier Community Foundation that surveyed more than 500 women across the county. Seventy-four percent named housing affordability as their number one issue, 56% said child care is a barrier to work, and 51% said the need to work keeps them from job training or education. Local leaders said even 'affordable' one-bedroom rents run $1,500 to $1,800 a month, and gave the example of a worker earning about $40,000 a year who cannot cover rents of roughly $3,000 to $5,000.
Why it matters: Fresh local data on how hard it is to afford housing in Collier County supports the push for workforce housing, Live Local Act projects and rental demand inland, all areas where the team can help investors and first-time buyers. It also signals ongoing hiring and staffing pressure for local businesses, which affects service costs that owners pay. For out-of-state and relocating buyers, these numbers are a reality check on Naples living costs, and the team can steer working families and remote workers toward more attainable areas such as Golden Gate, east Naples, Immokalee Road corridor communities and nearby Lee County.